10 Ways to Live Sustainable Lifestyle

Ever thought crossed your mind why climate change has become so frequent? Or how our way of living affects the environment? Yes, the choice we make for our lifestyles has a greater impact on the environment be the food we eat, the type of things we use or the way we commute.

But this doesn’t mean you should stop living your life by just eating greens or riding a bicycle everywhere. There is an alternative called sustainable living which can bring a positive impact for every living species & the environment.

Sustainable living means reducing the use of Earth’s natural resources & choosing the alternatives in order to secure them. There are several ways you can do this like limiting the amount of energy you use, using eco-friendly products and changing the food you consume.

Today, many brands are making an extra effort to not just make sustainable and eco products but also create awareness campaigns about the plastic free world, clean oceans, climate change and sustainable living. Example, JURU Yoga has been creating awareness about making conscious choices as yogis and invest in natural and environmentally friendly yoga mats and props instead of PVC and synthetic mats.

In short, you should try to have as little impact on the Earth as possible, while also trying to replace the resources you use every day. Here we will discuss 10 ways you can adapt in your lifestyle to make it sustainable.

1. Save Energy Mode On

Use as little energy as possible which can reduce the carbon emissions in the environment. You can do so by switching off appliances that stay on stand-by, using alternative ways like natural sunlight to dry clothes instead of drier. Use solar or wind forms of energy wherever possible.

2. Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

Every product that we use on a day to day basis has some environmental impact from how it is being produced, manufactured, packaged & delivered to us. The processes lead to various types of pollution. So, before buying anything, think if you really need that particular item. If you do, buy stuff that can be recycled or can be used for multiple purposes in longer duration.

3. Paperless is the best

With digitalization emerging, the use of paper has reduced to some extent. But, still people are so habitual of using paper in their day-to-day life that it seems challenging to go paperless. But, the production of paper has a greater impact on nature from how trees are cut-down & the machinery used to make it. Even when the paper is disposed & begins to decompose, it releases carbon dioxide.

Instead, use online applications like e-books, e-bills, emails instead of letters or expense management apps or to-do lists apps to manage your everyday activities.

4. Produce your own

Buying stuff from supermarkets negatively affects the environment. The import of goods leads to usage of fossil fuels and leads to water & air pollution. Instead, try to grow your own produce which saves your time, money & decreases the negative impacts on nature.

5. Eat less meat

Meat industry has hugely impacted the environment due to its production as well as transportation. The landscapes are majorly affected by them as huge plots are required to house the animals & store the produce. Try using substitutes for meat which is better for our nature & helps to fight against the pollution.

6. Save Life = Save water

Water is the driving force of all nature. Saving the water saves many lives & so does the environment. Although, the conservation of water is quite challenging especially due to increased demand of the growing population for water resources & sudden droughts faced simultaneously. So, it is more than important to adequately use water.

One can do so by having shorter showers, fixing any leakage issues & making use of low-flow water setting appliances. Reuse the water after cooking or cleaning to water plants. Even these small changes make a larger impact.

7. Be Plastic-Free

Plastic will never be gone forever. Billions of plastic waste can be found engraved beneath or on the surfaces of the oceans hampering the water ecosystem. Every minute many sea mammals die due to ingestion of plastic or by getting tangled up in it.

You can lower the usage of plastic & seek alternatives like using reusable bags for shopping, skip single-use water bottles, bags or straws and avoid products that are made from or packaged in plastic.

8. Be Attentive to Labels

To buy any item like coffee, soap or cloth, is challenging especially when you have to be mindful about what type of items you are buying. There are few tips that can help you shop sustainably.

You can choose products that are made from biodegradable and recyclable resources, or who have Fair Trade certification, when possible, to support companies that are involved in sustainable production and pay fair wages to laborers. Opt for organic food items that may cost a little more. But it keeps harmful pesticides away from nature and protects farmers, wildlife and our family.

9. Drive Green

Adapting healthier ways for commuting can avoid a larger amount of carbon consumption. Vehicles lead to around 20% of total emissions in the environment that leads to climate change. There are alternatives that one can go for.

Use carpool service, walk, ride bicycles, or make use of public transportation whenever possible. Maintain your private vehicles as well to reduce the pollution. You can also collectively plan your errands to avoid frequent trips.

10. Sell or Donate

You can always sell or donate the items that you no longer wish to use but are of good quality. It leads to lesser production of new items, gives a new purpose of usage and also saves your money. You can also make purchases from shops that sell second-hand items.

Choose a way of living that leads to the betterment of the environment as a whole. Let’s make a choice of doing less harm &more good to our Mother Nature.

By Riddhi Pandya